Method of visually recording sound beats



Aug. 8, 1933. LANE 1,921,470

METHOD OF VISUALLY RECORDING sounn BEATS Filed April 26, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l gwventoc v F v Gi o/P62 L/4/YE,

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METHOD OF VISUALLY RECORDING scum) BEATS Filed April 26, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 2 MMQUW Aug. 8, 1933. G. LANE 1,921,470

METHOD OF VISUALLY RECORDING SOUND BEATS Filed April 26, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Q Q QT; 11

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Patented Aug. 8, .1933

DIETHOD F VISUALLY RECORDING SOUND BEATS George Lane, New Haven, Conn. Application April 26, 1930.. Serial No. 447,623

3 Claims. (Cl- 38-162) This invention relates to a method for the visual recordation of sound for use with synchronized motion pictures and sound and is particularly adapted for use with that type of mo- 5 tion pictures which are hand-drawn, such as cartoons or the like. L

In the production of sound motion pictures, it is usual to record the sound on one film strip and the corresponding picture on another film strip,

0 the mechanism for feeding the films being synchronized so that both films feed exactly at the same speed in order that when both records printed on the same film strip are projected, the two will be timed correctly. How accurately such pictures and sound must be synchronized to produce the most pleasing effects may be judged from the fact that in actual projection, only two frames out of synchronism, that is, if either the 7 picture or the sound lag behind or are in advance of the other, this maladjustment is plainly noticeable, particularly in the case of persons talking. Inasmuch as sound pictures are usually projected twenty-four frames per second, these two frames out of synchronism represent only onetwelfth of a second, yet is plainly noticeable.

The above difiiculty is particularly acute in the synchronization of sound with drawn cartoons, where a figure or figures must assume a particular position or posture'corresponding to a certain deflniteobeator beats oi the accompanying sound, whether it be music, articulate speech or other audible noise.

The principal object of the invention therefore is to make possible the accurate combination oi sound and picture records so that the two when projected will be synchronized as intended and particularly to assist the artist in arranging his drawn figures so that theywill corre spond to the proper portions of the sound rec-- 0rd, and thus produce a pleasing eifect.

In practicing the invention, I provide a device having a series of semaphore or signal arms mounted for relative movement upon a background of contrasting color, each arm being connected mechanically or electrically with an operating key remote therefrom. The board carrying the signal arms is adapted to be photographed by an apparatus operating simultanenously and. synchronously with an apparatus for recording sound, the semaphore operator beating time to the music by depressing the proper key which actuates the corresponding signal arm. Thus there is produced on a film a record of both the sound and a visual indication of the sound beats or other divisions thereof. When developed, this visual record of the sound beat may be readily and properly combined with the correct picture record to which each corresponds, the position of the-arms indicating which note or beat of the music was sounded at that particular place on the film. Thus, a cartoonist is able to draw his picture so that a figure or figures will assume the desired position or posture corresponding to a particular beat, of the music and arrange the same or other figures in between these landmarks to properly fill the gap.

The invention is more fully hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawmgs.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of a damping device along the 7 line 44 ofFig. 3. a

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of the operating mechanism. I

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of a complete layout according to the present invention.

' Referring now with particularity to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, Ihave shown at 1 a base upon which is mounted a series of standards 2 carrying a front signal board 3 and a back 4. Between the two boards are mounted a series of rock shafts '5, each shaft carrying on one end thereof and adjacent the front of the signal board, a semaphore or signal arm A, B, C and D, the arms being mounted for movement in a restricted path and over the signal board back- 0 ground, each between upper and lower felt protected stops 6 and 7 respectively. As shown, each arm moves over an arc of rotation, although it is to be understood that any other movement or change of position is contemplated by the invention.

A convenient mechanism for actuating-the signal arms comprises keys a, b, c and d, each of which is mounted on one end of a lever 8- fulcrumed as at 9 on a block 10, carried on the base 1, the lever having limited rocking movement about its pivot against the felt protected stops 11 and i2.

The opposite end of each of the levers 8 carries a thong of leather or the like13 connected at the bottom to one arm 14 and a crank 15 mounted for rotation in a felt bearing 16. The arm 14 contacts with a stop facedwith felt at one limit of its movement to-eliminate noise. The crank 15 is provided with at additional arml'l connected by flexible element 18 to the end of member 19 fixed to shaft 5 which carries a semaphore arm. These arms are indicated at A, B, C and D. Depression of key 01 therefore causes a movement of arm D from the position shown in full lines to that shown indotted lines, Fig. -1. A coiled spring 20'returns the signal arm to its initial position as soon as the operator releases the operating key, and maintains the arm in that position. Beneath each of the key levers 8 is a less powerful coiled spring 21 arranged to pull down on each key lever, thus keeping all slack out of the connections between the key and signal arm so that the slightest movement of the key will be instantly transmitted to the semaphore. A substantially similar mech-- anism is provided between the keys a, b and c and their corresponding signal arms A, B and C respectively.

An important feature of the device is the quick action of the semaphore arms. As a consequence of this. speed, there is a tendency for each arm to rebound after striking its lower stop 7. Unless this rebound is prevented, the signal arm in such rebound position would give a false reading of the photographs, that is, it would be diflicult for the artist to tell whether the arm was moving toward or away from the-lower stop '7 and'could only be discovered by consulting adjacent photographs.

-To prevent this rebound, a damping arrangement is incorporated in'the mechanism which permits free movement of the shaft in the direction which carries the arm downward toward its stop 7, but in reverse rotation requires the damping device to move with the shaft. Owing to the inertia of the damping weight, rebound is thus prevented although return of the semaphore arm at normal speed is not interfered with.

This damping device may conveniently consist of a weight 22 shown in the formof a bar, to which one end 23 of a coil of wire 24 is attached, the other end being free. Several convolutions of the wire fit a sleeve 25 snugly, the sleeve being secured to the shaft 5 and carrying the weight 22. Except for this wire, the counterweight turns freely on the sleeve. The action of this combination is, therefore, to permit the shaft carrying the semaphore to rotate freely when its direction of rotation is such that the wire coil has a tendency to open. This is the direction in which the semaphores are moving toward their lower stops '7. Any tendency of the shafts 5 to reverse rotation due to rebound of the semaphores causes the coil 24 to tighten on the shaft and thus prevent return motion. Each of the rock shafts 5 is provided with a similar mechanism. I

It is to be noted thatcare has been exercised in designing the above apparatus to render it quiet in operation, a prerequisite in allapparatus used in the recording of sound. The invention therefore contemplates that all bearings shall be pro-' tected as by felt, the tension connections nonmetallic and sound deadening material such as felt used at all motion limiting stops.

In the operation of the device, it is assumed that sound is being recorded by an apparatus 30 (see Fig. 6) driven by a synchronous motor and another motor fed from the same current drives a motion picture camera 31 at the same speed, all

of-which is well-known in the art. While the orchestra located on platform 32 is playing and the music being recorded, the camera photographs the semaphore signal board 3 with its contrasting color signal arms, A, B, C and D, and simultaneously the semaphores are operated from the key board, the operator beating out the time in unison with the orchestra. He may be assisted in this by observing the music 26 placed on a rest 27 conveniently before him. As each key is depressed, its signal arm will be moved to its stop 7, the remaining arms being in the inoperative position or against stops 6.

To assist in determining from an examination of the filmrecord, when any arm has reached its full operative movement, a color area 28 similar to thatofthe semaphore is located on the signal board so that photographically the signal arm and its associated color area 28 will merge when the arm is against stop 7. Thus, a reader of the photograph seeing a strip of background between the color area representing the arm and its associated color area 28, will readily understand that the arm has not yet completed its full travel and therefore the beat is not yet complete. Thus, the invention contemplates the movement of one color area, 'in this case the signal arm, in relationto a second color area, here the area 28, to indicate a beat or the like. While the drawing indicates the two areas adjacent at the end of a beat, yet it may be desirable in some instances to reverse the action and separate the two areas for one beat.

To assist the artist in reading the picture record, it has been found desirable to provide a stripe 29 of contrasting color on the background, and to take the picture of the board so that the stripe will show on the film as a dividing line between frames. This positively separates-the semaphore arms into definite groups of four.

A moving picture having been taken of the signal board while operated as above, the film strip carries pictures showing the beats of the music at the proper distance apart as they occur upon the sound film.

As applied to hand-drawnpictures such as cartoons, the artist may wishhis figures to be in certain positions simultaneously with certain beats of the music or other sound. If the appropriate key while being depressed shows on the film signal arm A against its color area 28, at for instance frame number twenty in the film sequence, and arms B, C and D against their respective color areas at frames thirty-four, fortyeight and sixty-two respectively, then his drawing may be made to show a figure in a-certain posture at each of these beats, the semaphores in the horizontal or beat position, which is a different angular one from that initially occupied by it, serving as landmarks and enabling him to fill in the intervening action..

While only four signal arms have'been shown in the drawings, obviously any desired number may be used and may indicate whole beats or parts of beats. Other indicating devices than semaphores or signal arms may likewise be used in a forward direction be as nearly instantaneous as possible.

It will be apparent that the above device permits the operator to be at a distance from the field being photographed and out of the area of intense illumination and heat, which is a decided advantage. The above device requires no unusual manual efiort for operation but is similar to that to which musicians are accustomed as in the playing of a piano. In addition, the operator may view the sheet music before him or see the orchestra while operating the semaphore, all of which tends to the accurate timing of the beats.

Due to leverage, the semaphore arm movement is amplified beyond the actual movement of the key. This is of assistance in reading the photographs.

Due to the arrangement of parts and their being protected by sound-deadening material, the mechanism is practically silent in its operation, making unnecessary the enclosure thereof in a sound-proof booth as is usually necessary for devices used with the recording of sound to prevent the microphone from catching the undesired noise.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a particular method, yet obviously I do not wish to be limited thereto as many changes will occur to those skilled in this art. The invention is therefore to be construed broadly and limited only by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of visually recording sound beats which comprises producing and recording sound moving a color area from one position to another over a background of contrasting color to represent one beat of said sound, returning the color area to its initial position, moving another color area from one position to another over a background of contrasting color to represent a second beat of said sound, returning the second color area to its initial position, and photographing both color areas and background before and after movement the sound being recorded and the areas being photographed synchronously.

2. A method of visually recording sound beats which comprises producing and recording sound moving a color area from one position to another over a background of contrasting color to represent one beat of said sound, returning the color area to its initial position, moving another color area from one position to another over a background of contrasting color to represent a second beat of said sound, returning the second color area to its initial position, confining the movement of each color area to a restricted path, and photographing each color area and background before and. after movement the sound being recorded and the areas being photographed synchronously.

3. A method of visually recording sound beats which comprises producing and recording sound moving one color area having a position relative to a second color area to a difierent position thereto, returning the first area to its initial position, moving a third color area having a position relative to a fourth color area to a different position relative thereto, returning the third area to its initial position, movement of each area being over a background of contrasting color, each movable color area having in one position a definite relation to a beat of said sound and photographing the color areas before and after movement the sound being recorded and the areas being photographed synchronously.

GEORGE LANE. 

